The Best Baby Gear to Buy Secondhand—and Save
From strollers to swings, here’s what you can confidently (and safely) source secondhand—and save hundreds doing it.
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You’ve carefully built your baby registry or shopping list—scrolling, researching, reading reviews, maybe even crowd-sourcing advice from friends and family. But as that list grows, so can the price tag. Between must-haves, nice-to-haves, and just-in-cases, it’s easy to feel like you need to buy everything brand new.
The good news? You don’t have to. While there are some essentials that our gear editor and safety expert, Jen LaBracio, recommends purchasing new (like car seats and crib mattresses), many baby products are perfectly safe—and just as useful—to buy or accept secondhand.
For gear you’ll only use for a few months, like swings and bassinets, buying secondhand just makes sense—it’s easier on your wallet and better for the planet. And for those big-ticket items like strollers and nursery furniture, buying secondhand (or receiving hand-me-downs) can save you upwards of 50 percent compared to buying new. With shifting tariffs and price fluctuations, secondhand baby gear can offer a more affordable—and still reliable—way to check off your list.
To help you figure it all out, we’ve broken down the best baby gear to buy or receive secondhand (and the gear you should buy new) and how to let your friends and family know that you’re open to receiving gently used items (instructions on how to do that are below).
Strollers
Depending on the brand, stroller type and model, a stroller can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand. Unlike car seats, strollers are safe to buy secondhand and doing so can save you a chunk of money. Even if you’d rather receive your main stroller new, you can buy additional strollers like a jogging stroller, umbrella stroller or travel stroller secondhand (especially because they’ll be used far less often).
As far as safety goes, LaBracio says to make sure the stroller has a 2015 or later manufacturing date, and before you commit to purchasing it, take it for a spin to make sure it’s working well (pay attention to the brakes, buckles, canopy, recline, etc).
Nursery Furniture
Graco Noah 6 Drawer Double Dresser - White
From $263.74LaBracio says nursery items like the crib and mattress should be purchased new. “Cribs tend to weaken over time, especially after consistent use by an older kiddo, so the only way to ensure the structural integrity is to buy new,” LaBracio says. But other types of furniture like dressers and a glider or rocker are great products to get secondhand. In my daughter’s nursery, both the dresser (that doubles as a changing table) and the rocker were sourced secondhand from an online marketplace. And even after refinishing the dresser, we still saved hundreds of dollars.
Playards
The price of playards can vary, but you can save a few bucks if you go for a secondhand option. As long as it was manufactured no earlier than 2013 and “it folds and unfolds properly, the mattress fits snugly and there are no tears or holes on the sides,” our gear editor says it’s good to go.
High Chairs
While you typically won’t pull out a high chair until your baby is ready to try out solid food, it’s a baby product you’ll use for at least a couple of years (especially if it’s an option that transforms into a standard seat). If you’re buying a new high chair, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 for a basic model with limited features to $300 for a decked-out option. You might even be able to get a more basic model secondhand high chair for free.
Bouncers and Swings
BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft - Cotton/Jersey/Mesh Dark Gray
From $209.99Bouncers and swings are useful in the early days, but once your baby becomes mobile, the last thing they’ll want to do is be contained in any sort of seat. Skip shelling out money on a full-priced bouncer or swing and grab one at a deep discount. Since these items can be bulky and take up a bunch of space, parents are usually ready to get rid of them and willing to do it at a reasonable price (or even free, if you’re lucky).
Toys and Activity Mats
Like bouncers and swings, baby toys are often tied to specific ages or developmental milestones—so once your baby outgrows them, they mostly just become clutter. Activity mats also have a short lifespan, but they’re great for young babies who are learning to sit, roll, and work on those early motor skills. And since you’ll likely be buying toys almost as often as diapers, opting for secondhand can give your budget a break. Just make sure any pre-loved toys are free of choking hazards like small loose parts or broken pieces, are in good working condition, and if they’re battery-operated, pop in a fresh set of batteries.
How to Register for Secondhand Gear
With your Babylist registry, it’s easier than ever to let friends and family know you’re open to secondhand baby gear. On both the app and desktop versions, just click the pencil icon next to any item, scroll down, and toggle on the “Open to Secondhand” option. That way, your supporters will know you’re happy to receive that particular item, gently used.
Where to Find Secondhand Baby Gear
Aside from registering for secondhand baby gear, you can also buy items for yourself, with the same guidelines above. Here are some places that you can check out:
Facebook. You can find discounted used baby gear on Facebook within the built-in marketplace or you can join local swap/yard sale groups. If your area has a buy nothing group, you may be able to score baby gear for free.
Directly from brands. Some brands resell their pre-owned items at a discounted rate, directly on their websites. Brands like Lovevery, Snuggle Me, Wildbird and Dagne Dover have a secondhand section where they'll resell their pre-owned items or products with minor cosmetic imperfections that are still in great condition. Since these marketplaces are stocked by returns for the most part, availability can change by the day.
Online resale marketplace. GoodBuy Gear, OfferUp, ThredUp, Poshmark and eBay are a few online marketplaces that sell secondhand baby gear. The best part of buying online is that they'll ship it to you (with an additional fee).
Consignment and thrift stores. Brick-and-mortar stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are another good option to check out, especially for gently used furniture and toys.
